We’re going to miss the train, literally. Because the train – and Ontario – are going to stop in London.

Transportation Minister Glen Murray didn’t offer us so much as a crumb when he announced Wednesday that the government will build high speed rail from London to Toronto. Nothing about including Windsor in the business case it’s preparing or the environmental assessment it will start this year. Nothing about phasing in Windsor. Just…nothing, in a plan that, until Wednesday, had always included Windsor.

“If we build high-speed rail, what’s the first thing we would notice?” Murray asked. “More investment in London, more investment in Kitchener.”

But not in Windsor.

High speed rail is coming to Shanghai, Paris and Buffalo, he said. Ontario can’t be left behind.

But Windsor can.

“High speed rail connecting London, Kitchener-Waterloo and Toronto would be a tremendous economic boost to southwest Ontario,” enthused Deb Matthews, the MPP for London North Centre (and Liberal campaign chair).

Except for Windsor.

The effects are supposed to trickle down. Yeah, like trickle down economics. You’ll have ride your horse and buggy to London first to catch the train.

“This is a potential economic disaster,” said former Windsor-Tecumseh MPP Dave Cooke.

A trip from London to Toronto will take 45 minutes on high speed rail, essentially making London part of the GTA.

“Where would that leave us?” he asked. “We’d be totally isolated.”

We might as well become part of Michigan.

The effects of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the fluctuating dollar, the recession – Windsor has been hammered. And now the province, which has sunk millions of dollars into this city’s long, uphill recovery, is cutting it off at the knees. It’s sending everyone, existing businesses that might want to expand, new businesses that might want to invest here, people who might want to visit here, a message: our own province doesn’t have confidence in us.

No high speed rail would be better than high speed rail that stops in London.

But this isn’t only a colossal snub, and it isn’t about just Windsor and Essex County. If the government had thought about this, it would have realized this is a provincial, even national, issue. This has always been about the Windsor-Quebec City corridor, the most densely populated, heavily-industrialized corridor in the country. Almost 20 million people live along Via Rail’s main line.

And it’s about a new, fast way to connect to the economies of the rest of the Great Lakes, the U.S. Midwest and the entire northeast quadrant of North America – tens of millions of people and trillions of dollars.

“That opens up a whole lot of markets,” said Coun. Bill Marra. “It revolutionizes this corridor.”

And there is Windsor, in the geographical centre, between Toronto and Chicago, the two biggest cities on the Great Lakes.

Windsor, already a logistical hub in the biggest bilateral trading partnership in the world, is a “critical peg,” said Sandra Pupatello, CEO of the WindsorEssex Economic Development Corporation.

“This is about a bigger picture, a long term plan, the necessary link to the American run,” she said. “You’re looking at tying into 300 million people.”

The U.S. has already committed millions of dollars to several high speed or higher speed rail corridors, including Chicago to Detroit.

You’d think after four decades of talk and 16 studies, the government could get it right, instead of throwing out a half-baked idea the day before the provincial budget.

Our own government member and cabinet minister Teresa Piruzza wasn’t available Thursday to talk about the announcement. Her assistant sent a statement: “This is the first step in bringing high speed rail to Ontario. Based on the findings of this initial environmental assessment and business case, we will look to expand this project to other regions of the province.”

Except that’s not what Murray said Wednesday.

On Thursday, Murray said the Liberals envision high speed rail across Ontario, including Windsor. But they’re going to leave that to the federal government, he suggested.

“It’s a missed opportunity if we don’t extend this line,” said Marra, who emailed councillors Thursday stating he will seek their approval Monday to immediately petition the government to include Windsor. “It’s common sense. It’s business sense.

“I don’t think we should be bashful,” he said. “We should be very aggressive.”

Contrast that with Coun. Drew Dilkens’ response to the government’s announcement, essentially: I understand. That’s ok. You can come back to us later, if you want, if it’s not too much trouble.

Do you want Windsor to be an after-thought? This is a man who’s considering running for mayor, who could be Windsor’s next champion.

Lively discourse is the lifeblood of any healthy democracy and The Star encourages readers to engage in robust debates about our stories. But, please, avoid personal attacks and keep your comments respectful and relevant. If you encounter abusive comments, click the "X" in the upper right corner of the comment box to report spam or abuse. The Star is Using Facebook Comments. Visit our FAQ page for more information.

Connect With Us

Star Staff Tweets

Thanks to overtime pay already averaging $5,500 each this year, nearly every one of the 298 staff at the Windsor fire department is assured a spot on the 2016 sunshine list of public sector workers who earn $100,000 per year.

A leopard that changes its spots? The owners of the Ambassador Bridge are suddenly getting all contrite and playing friendly -- in a most out-of-character fashion — with one of the host cities of the vital trade span.

Essex MP Jeff Watson confirmed Saturday that the federally-owned Paul Martin Building will be sold to the city for $1 and converted into a law school building for the University Windsor, as previously reported by The Windsor Star.

Essex MP Jeff Watson announced Saturday that the federal government will invest $3.5 million to "make FINA a success." He made the announcement at the Windsor International Aquatic and Training Centre on behalf of Sports Minister Bal Gosal.

Now so much more than a pleasant break from long distance highway driving, the MS Chi-Cheemaun ferry has become a trip highlight for visitors exploring Manitoulin Island, Bruce Peninsula and Tobermory.